Disposable self supporting bag

ABSTRACT

A collapsible disposable bag which is self supporting in full open vertical position ready for use. The bag has a framework sandwiched between outer and inner layers of plastic material. The framework employs a first plurality of elongated flexible vertical members disposed side by side to define a cylinder. Draw string means interconnects the top ends of all of said members. A second plurality (equal to one half of the first plurality) of horizontally elongated flexible members are pivotally secured together at a common center and extend radially outward. Each end of each horizontal member is secured to the bottom end of a corresponding vertical member. The vertical members define a vertical cylindrical wall and the horizontal members define a horizontal base. The outer and inner layers seal off the openings between adjacent members whereby the bag is formed.

United States Patent [191 Wardwell [4 1 Sept. 2, 1975 DISPOSABLE SELF SUPPORTING BAG George D. Wardwell, Box 9667, South Lake Tahoe, Calif. 95705 [22] Filed: Mar. 11, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 449,660

[76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 150/48; 217/44; 150/11 [51] Int. Cl. A45C 7/00; A45C 13/04 [58] Field of Search 150/11, 48, 49, 50; 217/43, 44, 49, 3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 435,203 8/1890 Cadwell 217/44 510,356 12/1893 Mariani 217/44 618,442 l/l899 Shearer 150/49 1,268,638 6/1918 Slocum 150/50 3,818,633 6/1974 Sable 150/48 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 122,616 1/1919 United Kingdom 217/44 9,025 1903 United Kingdom 217/44 Primary ExaminerHerbert F. Ross 5 ABSTRACT A collapsible disposable bag which is self supporting in full open vertical position ready for use. The bag has a framework sandwiched between outer and inner layers of plastic material. The framework employs a first plurality of elongated flexible vertical members disposed side by side to define a cylinder. Draw string means interconnects the top ends of all of said members. A second plurality (equal to one half of the first plurality) of horizontally elongated flexible members are pivotally secured together at a common center and extend radially outward. Each end of each horizontal member is secured to the bottom end of a corresponding vertical member. The vertical members define a vertical cylindrical wall and the horizontal members define a horizontal base. The outer and inner layers seal off the openings between adjacent members whereby the bag is formed.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEB SEP 21975 FIG.5.

FIG. 5.

1 DISPOSABLE SELF SUPPORTING BAG SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Flexible disposable bags of plastic are widely used to collect waste and the like. However it is conventional to dispose the bag inside a rigid hollow container with the neck of the bag folded over the top edge of the container to hold the bag open for use in collection.

In this invention the bag carries its own supporting structure whereby the need for the rigid container is eliminated. To this end outer and inner flexible plastic layers are secured to an intervening structure or framework which defines a supporting cylinder. The cylinder consists of a first plurality of vertically elongated flexible members placed in side by side position to define a vertical cylinder and interconnected at top ends by draw string means. A second plurality (equal to one half the first plurality) of horizontally elongated members are secured together at a common center and extend radially outward, each end of each horizontal member being secured to a bottom end of a corresponding vertical member. The horizontal members define a horizontal base for the vertical cylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the invention in side view in collapsed position;

FIG. 2 shows the invention in side view ready for use;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the invention FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the framework of the invention; and

FIG. 5 shows the invention ready for disposal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, a plurality of horizontally elongated flat flexible cardboard members are pivotally secured together at a common center by pin 12 and extend radially outward. Each end of each member 10 is secured to a corresponding bottom end of a vertically elongated flat flexible cardboard member 14. Members 14 are arranged in side by side position. There are twice as many members 14 as members 10. Members 14 and 10 can be collapsed together as shown in FIG. 1 or erected to define a vertical cylinder open at the top and using members 10 as a horizontal base as shown in the other Figures. The top ends of members 14 are connected by drawstring 16.

Flexible inner and outer plastic liners 18 and 20 are secured to outer and inner surfaces of the members 10, and 14 to complete the bag. The bag when filled can be placed within an outer bag 22 which can itself be closed by drawstring 24 and thrown away.

While the invention has been described with detailed reference to the drawings, the protection sought is to be limited only by the terms of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A collapsible, disposable, self supporting bag comprising:

a plurality of flexible vertically elongated members disposed side by side to define a cylinder;

draw string means interconnecting the top ends of all of said members; and

a second plurality of horizontally elongated flexible members secured to each other at a common center and extending radially outward, there being twice as many vertically elongated members as horizontally elongated members, each end of each horizontally elongated member being secured to the bottom end of a corresponding vertically elongated member.

2. The bag of claim 1 further including a flexible outer layer of plastic material secured to the outer surface of said members and open at the top.

3. The bag of claim 2 further including a flexible inner layer of plastic material secured to the inner surface of said members and open at the top.

4. The bag of claim 3 wherein the horizontally elongated members are pivotally secured to each other at their common center. 

1. A collapsible, disposable, self supporting bag comprising: a plurality of flexible vertically elongated members disposed side by side to define a cylinder; draw string means interconnecting the top ends of all of said members; and a second plurality of horizontally elongated flexible members secured to each other at a common center and extending radially outward, there being twice as many vertically elongated members as horizontally elongated members, each end of each horizontally elongated member being secured to the bottom end of a corresponding vertically elongated member.
 2. The bag of claim 1 further including a flexible outer layer of plastic material secured to the outer surface of said members and open at the top.
 3. The bag of claim 2 further including a flexible inner layer of plastic material secured to the inner surface of said members and open at the top.
 4. The bag of claim 3 wherein the horizontally elongated members are pivotally secured to each other at their common center. 